Photo: Team BOC

Team BOC delighted with podium after setbacks

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Team BOC overcame an unscheduled pit-stop and a drive through penalty to battle through to their first podium of the season.

The Team BOC No.8 car, being driven by Jason Richards and Andrew Jones suffered a problem with a faulty wheel, pitting on lap seven, and then being hit with a drive-through penalty after a fumble in the pit-stop saw one of the wheel-nuts fly off down the pitlane.

Jones raced on, unlapping himself by passing then race leader Todd Kelly in the Jack Daniels Racing Holden, and had to hope for a safety car to rescue their track position.

Cruel irony played it’s hand, as the safety car came at the expense of team mate Jason Bright and Matt Halliday’s Trading Post Racing entry.

The team worked it’s way up to second place, but a hard charge from FPR’s Mark Winterbottom saw Jason Richards forced to concede the second spot on the podium for third, but Jason was still more than happy with the result.

“To be honest I can’t believe it; what are the chances?!” said Richards.

“We had three cars in the pit lane on laps eight, nine and ten; got a drive-through on lap ten and it all seemed to compound our hopeless situation.”

“But we had a fast car and we were committed. Man, I was just committed 100%, making massive moves to get ourselves back in the race; maximum risk, maximum speed, but it’s all you can do when you’re that far back. When I popped out after the last stop, the team said I was P3 and I said ‘wow that’s impressive’! I gave it all I had every lap and never gave up; a bit like the All Blacks last night!”

Team Co-owner Brad Jones wrapped up the sentiment of the team:
“It was an amazing race; it just goes to show that if you never give up, with the right cars and people you can definitely get a result. We had a very aggressive strategy; it was just a fantastic result. To be on the podium from where we were is astonishing.”

After the weekends results, Richards now finds himself in the top 10 in the drivers standings, as the team now prepare for the Bathurst 1000km race at the beginning of October.